Cool items for children

I like to browse blogs and, in doing so, often hop onto finding a really cool website full of funky items for children - as is the case with Vessel. I've never owned any items from this company but I just might in the future (can anyone say eBay?).

Candeloo night lights

Bilibo toy

Dado stacking cubes

Cup stacking

I'm so intrigued. I've been watching many clips of Luke Meyers, the current world record holder (yellow shirt) doing his thang on YouTube. Makes me want to buy a sleeve of solo cups and learn how to do it myself!

Camp Marannook FAMILY CAMP

I've mentioned Camp Marannook before here, here, and here - but I wanted to share (AGAIN) about our amazing time there as a family this past weekend. We attended their bi-annual Family Camp and it was so much fun, even though it rained a good bit of our time there. We played in the maze, soaked each other with water guns, rode the cable car down the zip line, did a few ropes courses, made new friends, listened to godly advice and Scripture, sang some hymns, walked many trails, ate delicious meals, enjoyed gracious hosts, and slept in a wonderful cabin. I highly recommend any family to go on this retreat!

Wordless Wednesday

Tired of Singing Sad Songs, by Sarabeth Geoghegan

Heather and I are saturating ourselves with SBG's new music. Can't get enough.



The pavement is soaking wet, the snow hasn’t fallen yet

I whisper your name and I can see my breath

And I’m tired of singing sad songs

The world’s fallen fast asleep and I’m walking down the street

I whisper your name without the heaviness

And I’m tired of singing sad songs


When the flowers bloom darling we will too After a hard cold winter

And the birds fly home with a lighter load They’re singing a hymn of summer

Ooh, ooh


The willow has lost her leaves naked she does not weep

She whispers “it’s finally time to breathe”

And she’s tired of singing sad songs

All I have are memories and really that’s fine with me

I whisper your name, smile and believe

That it’s time to sing a new song

When the flowers bloom darling we will too After a hard cold winter

And the birds fly home with a lighter load They’re singing a hymn of summer

Ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh ooh oooh ooh, etc.

I’m tired of singing sad songs

The Jesus Storybook Bible

I love this book. It's been such a blessing to our family. Now, it's in the deluxe edition form which means it's in CD format!

Click PLAY to get a small taste of the illustrations in this wonderful book.

Uncle Stuart comes to town

My brother, Stuart, is in town on business so we had him over to eat dinner with us last night (it beats spending money at McDonald's, right, Stu?). After gobbling down some pork chops, mashed taters, salad, fruit, and rolls, we went outside to enjoy the last 30 minutes of daylight together. My children love their uncle and it was a nice break to have them climb all over him instead of me for a while.

Free printables I've been using

Free printables of silly song lyrics.

Free printables of themed coloring pages.

Afghanistan featured in pictures

The Big Picture will feature Afghanistan in pictures once a month. Some pictures are full of beauty and amazement while others are graphic and disturbing in nature. Just wanted to warn you. Here's September's contribution.

It's time for a change

I'm working on changing my blog face.
It's a work in progress!

Shabby Blogs has been fun to browse through.

Redbox code

I'm not sure why another code has been released before the beginning of the next month, but here's a code that's been working nationwide. I'm not sure when it expires....so go out and get you a movie now!

9HB6MP22


Here's another code but it's only good at REDBOX of McDonald's.

SMR8DVD

Flood pictures

Click here to see some amazing pictures of the flooding in the southeast, largely centered in Atlanta but dumped onto most of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Six Flags: Atlanta, GA

Is your fairy missing?

Mitch was behind a car this morning that had a bumper sticker on it which read:

A day without fairies is a day full of sadness.

Got or Get?

It's amazing how one little word can change your perspective and actions. Thanks, Challies, for reminding me of the gift of children.

Thoughtful Thursday reading

How Monogamous Men Can Rescue Civilization

The culture of the traditional family is now in intense competition with a very different culture. The defining difference between the two is the sexual ideal embraced. The traditional family of Western civilization is based on lifelong monogamy. The competing culture
is polyamorous, normally a serial polygamy both before and after the first marriage, but also increasingly polymorphous in its different sexual expressions.

Read more.....

Musician spotlight: Sara Beth Geoghegan

Sara Beth Geoghegan:

I read about her in the current issue of WORLD magazine and I love her sound, music, and deep thoughtful lyrics. She kind of reminds me of a mixture of Sara Groves and JJ Heller, two of my favorite musicians. It's encouraging to see and hear artists using their gifts to the glory of God.

Oh yeah, Sara Beth is on Facebook. I'm a fan...ya think?

Fun in pictures

Just random pictures of what we've been doing with our days.

Visiting the local skateboard park. It was interesting....

We found a turtle in the road on the way home from church. We released him that afternoon in a nearby lake. Hope he didn't drown. I just read that box turtles don't swim.

A huge train track has been constructed in our toy room. Our children have been busy picking up passengers and repairing collisions.

Andrew tired of sharing the train tracks so he retreated to an afternoon bike ride.

Mr. Bean sings (and dances)

He always makes me laugh.



HT: The Other Malachi (Michael)

The river is a'risin

It has been raining here in Georgia. What feels like non-stop pouring rain. Eight people have died because of the flooding and Atlanta has seen most of the damage. There are reports that the cost of damage is around $250 million statewide. Tonight, we wanted to show the kids how the rain and flooding just 97 miles north of us affects the river that runs along our city.

Notice the water that is sitting atop what we know as The Riverwalk. Dams had to be opened to relieve the water pressure buildup in Atlanta. Andrew and Luke couldn't believe that we were just here in this spot a few weeks ago, running and jumping around below on the walkway - now it's drowning in flood water.

Click on images for a larger view.

Yahoo subject line choices are fun!

I've been a YAHOO user since I first created my account way back in 1997 or so, I think. It's been my main personal email address since and it's my default homepage as well. Funny how, after all this time and through all the CLASSIC/BETA changes, I am still learning more and more about good 'ole Yahoo.

My friend, Coralie, introduced me to a feature on my Yahoo Mail that I've never known about before. When composing a new message, click continuously on the SUBJECT button and you'll get quite a myriad of choices for subject lines. It's funny and helpful when your mind is blank....or if you're just a weird-O like me.

Handmade journals

I've been busy crafting these to be donated to our MOPS silent auction this week. I had fun making them but they were time consuming. I'll be making a bunch more later if they do well at the auction.

Wordless Wednesday

Converse All-Stars

She has fallen in love. Who doesn't adore their pair of Converse All-Stars?

Holly is smiling as she reads this, I just know it.

Garage Greeters

Andrew made his.
Luke made his.
Abigail finally made hers.

These cutouts greet us each time
we pull the mini-van into the garage.

FREE travel sz Downy Wrinkle Release

Now you know why I NEVER iron.

Go get you a free one and see why I love it so much.

Home Depot Kid's workshop

Home Depot has a craft workshop for children ages 5-12 on the first Saturday of every month . This past month, the boys made a bean bag toss and flagship (they made an exception for Luke). Looks like October will be to construct a wooden firestation. See you there!

JO-ANN coupons

What a plethora of coupons to Jo-Ann's.

Enjoy!

The million dollar hole-in-one

You've got to read the article at Yahoo Sports to fully understand the meaning behind this incredible golf shot. Amazing!

Stuart, you could have done it, too, if you weren't at work making a living. DUH!

A La Carte

Relationships built around the truths of the Gospel
When relationships are built around the truths of the gospel—the truth that we are walking in light even though we are still sinners in need of cleansing by his blood—we can be free from feelings of inferiority and the demanding spirit that is born of pride.

Orphan Care Sunday, November 8
The relationship between making much of Jesus and visiting orphans in their affliction is very similar, if not identical, to the relationship between glorifying God and enjoying him forever. Just as we “glorify God by enjoying him forever,” we can make much of Jesus by visiting orphans in their affliction.

Do guys really prefer women with long hair?
When the newly shorn girl first appears at school or at work, other women tend to gather round and compliment her, usually telling her how cute she looks with her new "do." The men, meanwhile, usually look up only long enough to remark: "Sure, looks nice." Or they simply smile and say nothing. To be brutally honest, some guys barely even notice.

Discipleship starts at home
Practical ideas to help you disciple your children at home.

St. Pete can't be beat

We just returned home from a week long vacation to St. Petersburg, FL - and it was amazing. Never did we reach that point where we were "ready to come home". Now, that's not to say that home isn't grand, mind you. No, we just enjoyed our time away as a family, together. No agenda, no deadlines, no lesson plans, no sermon to prepare, no lunches to pack....I wanna go back NOW!

I took ALOT of pictures while there so I've been busy these past few days downloading, editing, and ordering the final prints. Tonight, I finally got SOME of them ready to post.

******************************************************************************

Traveling with three small children could have been more than we bargained for on this seven hour journey, but we managed by stopping at my mom's house on our way to Florida. Thanks, Mom!

We arrived to a cozy beach cottage and were thrilled to finally arrive and get unpacked!

Breakfasts were usually eaten a tad bit late
and full of fruit and a bit of sugar.

The weather was nice to us. Our first full day gave us sunshine and a cool breeze. Being in the ocean was the highlight of the week for our children. Mitch even spotted a stingray in the sand near the shore. On our last night there, we took our flashlights to the beach and went shell hunting in the dark. Ask them about it.....they'll tell you about their adventure!

One of St. Pete's famous landmarks is The Pier. So,we did the typical tourist thing and visited.

The view of downtown Tampa from the fifth floor at The Pier in St. Petersburg.
(click to enlarge)

There's a small educational interactive aquarium on the second floor at The Pier and the boys were delighted to be able to touch crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins.

It only rained one day while we were there (the whole day!).
Abigail didn't like it one bit.

You can't go to the beach without playing some putt-putt....with the Florida gators!


Since we are members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, we were able to get free admission to the Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park. Even though it rained on us during a good bit of our time there, we still had fun spotting the wildlife.

Playing in the wet zone.

The boys on a walk-about.

The manatee thought Andrew was a funny looking thing! I still can't look at one of these animals without thinking of the Veggi-Tales song.

And there you go!

Blaire & Michele, we thank you for giving us a wonderful family vacation. It's so fun being friends with you and we are appreciative for your hospitality. Dinner and ice cream Friday night was so much fun! Michele, you make me laugh - and that's always a good thing. I can't wait to see you again, my friend.